Many decades before, asbestos is considered as a miracle mineral and it is used in about 3,000 industries and products in the United States. Asbestos is a highly-fibrous mineral composed of long, durable, and flexible fibers. It is also resistant to heat and chemical damage.
Asbestos is composed of long and thin fibers that become airborne when damaged and disturbed. Despite the many uses of asbestos, it is now considered as hazardous to public health. Studies have finally found out heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos causes several serious illnesses to people.
What are the Cancer Associated with Asbestos?
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. The microscopic fibers lodge in the tissues and cause inflammation that will form to malignant tumors in the mesothelium (the protective membrane that surrounds the bodys most internal organs).
There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs and considered as the most common. Peritoneal and pericardial esothelioma affect the membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity and the heart, respectively.
The prognosis is poor because condition is often diagnosed in the advanced stages; mainly because symptoms are typically late to appear. There is no cure but different treatment options are available.
Lung Cancer is more common than mesothelioma but not most cases are directly caused by asbestos. Smoking combined with asbestos exposure may speed up the development of cancer.
Other types of cancer linked to asbestos include: Laryngeal, kidney, esophageal, intestinal, gallbladder, and colon.
Other cancerous illnesses include: colon, intestinal, esophageal, and gallbladder.
High-Risk Occupations for Asbestos Cancer
Some occupations inevitably expose individuals to high levels of asbestos and these include: construction and building work, demolition jobs, shipbuilding and shipyard, drywall installation and removal, auto brake repair, and firefighting and fireproofing. Patients who have jobs connected with asbestos in the past typically show signs of illness after two to five decades.
If you need information on the types of cancers associated with asbestos, find articles and videos on mesothelioma on the New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog.